Type-writing machine.



B. C. STICKNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED APR.17, 190s. RENEWED MAR. 3, 1909.

1,054,470. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

a sums-8mm 1.

ui vnv ro B. G. STICKNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11.17, 1903 RENEWED MAR. a, 1909.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

pfl w n m J B. O. STIOKNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1903 RENEWED MAR. 3, 1909. 1,054,470. PatentedFeb. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-BHBET 3.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURNHAM C. STIdKNEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO UNDERWOODTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Application filed April 17, 1903, Serial No. 153,024. Renewed March 3,1909. Serial No. 481,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURNHAM C. STICK- NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of the city of Elizabeth, county of Union, andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to so-called visible writing machines, in whichthe line of Writing is always in view, and particularly to those of thefront strike class; and one of its principal objects is to make a moresatisfactory disposition of the ribbon spools than has heretofore beenmade in this sort of machines. Usually the ribbon spools are mounted infront of the platen, in positions where they are either so exposed as tobe objectionable because of the unsightly lengths of ribbon extendingfrom the spools to the printing-point, or so confined as to be almostinaccessible. By m invention only a minimum length of ri bon is exposedto view, and the ribbon spools are mounted beneath the carriage orplaten and behind the type bars; while provision is made for renderingthem accessible when necessary, for adjusting or changing the ribbon,detaching the spools, etc.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

My invention consists in certain combinations of devices, features ofconstruction, and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the concluding claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of a front strike writing machineembodying my improvements; one type action being shown in printingpositlon, and the carriage being shown 1n full lines in normal position,and in dotted lines when tilted up to render the ribbon spoolsaccessible to the operator; the position of the platen when capitals arebeing written being alsoindicated by dotted lines below the full-lineposition. Fig. 2 is a plan; and Fig. 3. is a sectional front view of themachine.

In the several views portions are omitted or broken away for the sake ofclearness; and like signs denote like parts.

The framework of the machine comprises side walls 1, whose lowerportions may be connected to form a base, and a top plate 2 supportedupon said walls; a portion of the top plate being depressed, as at 3, tomake room for the paper carriage and its supports.

Forwardly extending type 1 bars 4 are pivoted at their rear ends upon acurved fulcrum-rod 5 mounted in a segment 6, and strike rearwardlyagainst a cylindrical or other platen 7. The segment is radially slottedat 8 to receive the type-bar hubs; and preferably both the segment andthe fulcrum-wire incline upwardly and rearwardly, so that the types maystrlke upon the front side of the platen at a oint a little above thehorizontal plane of the platen axis. Each type-bar is provided with alower-case type 9 and an upper-case type 10, the former bein uppermostwhen the type bar is in printing position, although this relation may bereversed within the scope of my improvements, and the type-bars may beotherwise mounted. The type bars may be operated by any suitable means,as for instance pull-links 11\ and forwardly-extending levers 12connected to the links and hearing at their forward ends keys 13; saidkey-levers being fulcrumed at their rear ends upon a transverse bar 14,and being provided with returning springs 15.

The platen 7 may be mounted by means of an axle 16 upon a carriage'whichmay be of any suitable constructlon, and is illustrated as comprisingside bars 17, united at their rear ends by a longitudinal bar 18, saidside bars extending rearwardly from the platen axle; and arms 19extending downwardly and rearwardly from the platen axle, and connectedat their lower ends by a longitudinal carriage-guiding bar 20. Upon aforwardly protruding boss 21 about midway of said bar 20 is mounted acarriage roll 22, which runs upon a horizontal rail 23, provided uponits rear side with a depending flange 24. Secured by screws 25 upon therear side of this flange are upstanding arms 26, which support acylindrical rail 27. The carriagelongitudinally to slide along upon thisrail 27, and is also recessed upon its under side at 28 to pass the arms26. A finger 29, se-

' cured by the carriage-roll screw 30, hooks on edge and side by side.

under the front edge of the'rail 23, thereby cooperating with the bar 20to hold the carriage upon the rails. A feeding-in roller 31 may bemounted in rear of the platen upon links 32 rising from ears 33 on thecarriage-bar 20; and said links may be provided withrearwardly-extending lugs 34 for receiving legs 35 of a paper-shelf 36.Fromthe front side of the bar 20 may project forwardly and .upwardlyextending arms 37, upon whose forward ends may be hinged at 38 a bailconsisting of a pair of upwardly, and forwardly extending arms 39 and aplaten-scale 40 fixed upon the forward ends of said arms and providedwith an apron 41 upon its rear side contiguous to the platen; the upperedge of sald scale beingbelow the printing line upon the platen. One ormore pressure rollers 42 may be mounted upon an axle 43 mounted at itsends in said arms 39 about midway of their length. Any suitable springsmay be provided for the front and rear pressure rollers.

So far as my present improvements are concerned, the carriage, means andcarriage-supporting and guiding bars or rails may be of any otherdesired construction.

The flanged rail 23, 24 forms part of a movable frame, whereby the papercarriage is enabled not only to run in letter-space direction, but tomove also in a direction transverse thereto. This frame comprises, inaddition to said rail (which need not be flanged in all cases)rearwardly extending arms 44, which are united at their forward ends bysaid rail, and a rock-shaft 45, which unites, the rear ends of saidarms, said rockshaft being horizontally mounted or hinged upon pintles46, working in ears 47 project ing forwardly from the front portion ofthe rear part of the top plate 2. The carriage and its supporting framemay be swung together up about said hinge and tilted rearwardly to thedotted line position at Fig. 1, so as to .expose the underside of thecarriage. Said supporting frame may, however, be otherwise formed andotherwise,

movably supported within the scope of my improvements.

In rear of the type bars and below the platen is mounted upon an axle oraxis 48 a pair of ribbon spools 49, 50, said axis being horizontal, andsaid spools being arranged The axis 48, which extends transversely ofthe machine,

at 20 is bored.

paperfeeding that when in normal position the ribbon spools areinaccessible to the operator, but that when the hinged frameis swung upto the dotted line position at Fig. 1, Said spools are brought to anaccessible position, for convenience in examining or adjusting orattaching the ribbon, or of detaching or replacing the spools, 'etc.,The depressed portion 3 of the top plate is preferably cleft, as at. 53,to make room for the spools, which in normal position dip below saiddepressed portion. 4

For rotating the spools, I preferably use a pair of pawls 54, 55,operated at every type stroke, and adapted to engage a pair of ratchetwheels 56, associated with the ribbon spools. The latter may be slippedoff and onto the axis 48, being retained by thumb-nuts 57; andeachratchet wheel may be connected to its spool by a collar or other device58, so'that one spool with its ratchet may turn upon the axisindependently of the other spool and its ratchet. If desired,

with each spool and ratchet; or any other 1 suit-able spool-mounting andrevolving means may be employed within the scope of my invention. Oneratchet may be omitted, and the other fixed to an undivided axis, andthe spools may be alternately clamped to the axis by the thumb-nuts 57,so as to cause the ribbon to wind first on one spool and then on theother.

From one spool the ribbon 59 is led forwardly and upwardly, as at 59,then across the printing point at the front side of the platen, as at59*, and then back to the other spool, as at 59. At the front side ofthe laten are provided ribbon-guiding arms 60 and 61, formed at theirupper ends with re versely inclined tips 62, 63,.the angle of each tipbeing about 45 degrees, for properly conducting the ribbon across theprinting point or field between its ascending and descending portions.Said arms 60 and 61 form part of a ribbon vibrator, being connected attheir lower ends by a crossarm 64, whereby they are supported upon abent arm 65, which extends backwardly beneath the rail 23 and at itsrear end is pivoted by means of a rock-shaft 66 upon bearing-arms 67 and68, both of the latter projecting forwardly from the rock-shaft 45 ofthe carriage-supporting hinged frame,

. versely in the base of the machine.

and arm 67 overlying the spool-carrying arm 51. By this vibrator, theribbon may be lifted to cover the printing point at each impression, asat Fig. 1, and depressed to uncover the same; and since the vibrator ismounted upon the hinged frame, it is carried u with the latter whentilted to the dot-te -line position at Fig. 1, thus facilitating thereeving of the ribbon from the spools over the guiding arms 62 and 63.Said ribbon-vibrator is operatively connected to carriage-feedingmechanism also mounted upon the hinged carriage-supporting frame andcoiiperating with a rack 69 on the carriage; said feeding mechanismcomprising a de'tent dog 70 and a feeding dog 71, the latter beingnormally in engagement with the rack. These dogs are mounted upon arocker or rock-shaft 72, mounted upon ears 73 and 74 upon the rockshaftand said rocker 72 is provided with an operating arm 75 which curvesdownwardly and rearwardly beneath the rock-shaft 45, in position to beoperated by a finger 76 projecting forwardly from the upper end of anupstanding rocker-arm 77, fixed upon a rock-shaft 78 mounted trsansd a1rock-shaft 78 carries near its ends forwardly directed arms 79, fromwhich is suspended, by means of rods 80, a universal bar 81, extendingtransversely beneath all of the type-operating key-levers 12, so as tobe operated at each type stroke. The universal-bar and rocker 7 8 may bereturned to normal position by a spring 82; and a returning-spring 83for the dog-rocker may be coiled about the shaft 72. Theconnectionbetween the latter and the ribbon-vibrator consists of an arm84 mounted upon shaft 7 24a pull-link 85 connected to said arm andextending forwardly, and an arm 86 connected to said link and mountedupon the vibrator shaft 66. By this means, whenever the dog-rocker isvibrated by the keys, the vibrator is elevated to cause the ribbon tocover the printing point; and upon the return of the carriage-feedingmechanism to normal position, said vibrator drops to permit the ribbonto uncover the printing point.

The carriage may be propelled by a spring-barrel 87 (Figs. 2 and 3),mounted upon an arm 88, projecting laterally and downwardly from theside-bar 44 of the hinged carriage-supporting frame; and a strap 88 mayconnect, the spring-barrel to the carriage. By mounting both the springbarrel and the carriage-feeding mechanism upon the hinged frame, thelatter is permitted to swing freely up and down, without liability ofderanging the carriage-controlling devices, which always maintain theirproper relation to the carriage, al-

though by reason of the arm 75 swinging away from the finger 76, thelatter cannot of course operate the feeding mechanism when the carriageis tilted up.

The ribbon-feeding pawls 54 and 55 may be pivoted at their rear ends uon arms 89 upstanding from the universa -bar rocker 78, and providedwith draw-springs 90 connected at their lower ends to the pawls and attheir upper ends to the arms 89, whereby the pawls may be held inengagement with the ratchet wheels 56; each pawl being provided with astop 91, to prevent undue up- Ward movement thereof when the ratchetwheels are swung away from the pawls at the tilting up of the carriage.Behind the pawls is mounted in the side Walls of the machine ahorizontal shaft 92, having an operating handle 93, and carrying wings94, 95, the-latter being shown as lifting an arm 96 projectingrearwardly from the pawl 55, so as to hold the toothed end of the latterdown out of engagement with its ratchet wheel. The shaft may be rockedto depress the wing 95 and allow said pawl to rengage the ratchet-wheel,while the other wing 94 rises and lifts an arm 97 provided upon theother pawl, and throwing the latter out of engagement, whereby the feedof the ribbon is reversed. Any other suitableribbonfeeding and reversingribbon may be employed, and the ribbon spools may be otherwise disposedwithin the limits of my invention.

Preferably advantage is also taken of the hinging of thecarriage-support, to enable the latter to be shifted up and down toenable different types to print. Normally the carriage and platen are inan elevated position, as seen in full lines at Fig. 1, thereby enablingthe lower-case types 9 to print;

while by depressing the carriage and platen (the latter 'in itsdepressed position being indicated by a dotted circle at Fig. 1), theupper-case types 10 are enabled to print. The downward movement of thecarriage is limited by a pair of adjustable stops 98, and its upwardmovement by a pair of stops having the form of hooks 99 which overhanglugs 100 projecting forwardly from the carriage-supporting rail 23 atthe ends thereof. A spring 101, Fig. 1, sustains the carriage and hingedframe normally against the books 99, said spring being caught at itsupper end over a pin 102 projecting from the side wall of the machine,and at its lower end being caught in a lever 103,

which is fulcrumed at its rear end upon a 1o 105" in the top the latter.A stop-pin 108, overlying the lever 108, prevents undue upward movementof the latter when the carnage is tilted up. The lever 103 is providedwith a key 104", by pressure upon which the pull of the spring 101 maybe overcome,.and the leyer 103 and rod 105 carried down, permit-4 tingthe carriage and hinged frame to drop and rest upon the screw-stops 98.

The hooks 99, which extend through eyes plate 3, are fixed upon arock-shaft 106, whereby they may be Vibrated forwardly to release thehinged frame andcarriage, to permit the latter to be tilted up;- saidrock-shaft being provided with a returning spring 107, and being mountedin eccentricmuts 108, by the adjustment of which the hooks 99 may beelevated or lowered so as to position the platen with accuracy. It willbe noted that the hinge 46 of the carriage-supporting frame is in rearof and below the platel n' so that the latter may shift downwardly andforwardly in a direction agreeing substantially with the tip of thetype-bar segment 6, the forward movement being in this in stance,however, very slight.

At Fig. 3 itv will be noted that the ribbon comes up in direct pathsfrom the spools to the front sideof the platen, and that theribbon-guiding arms 60, 61 are widely separated, so as to expose to viewsomewhat more than one of the major divisions upon the platen scale, sothat at least one of the whole numbers marked upon the platen,

scale is always visible to the operator be tween said arms, and he canreadily determine at what point the carriage is standing,

an index. 109 being preferably formed upon the cross-bar 61 for thispurpose. The typeguide has a type-opening 110 above the platen scale,and arms 111 and 112 extendinglaterally and downwardly from saidopening, in a manner to leave exposed all of the platen scale which isvisible between the ribbon-guiding arms 60 and 61; said type-guidingarms being connected at their bases by a bar 113, and the type-guidingframe being secured upon the depressed portion of the top-plate 3 byarms 114 andcation No. 475,930, filed February 3, 190$).

\Vide variations in the construction and operation of the differentmechanisms may be resorted to within the scope of my mvention; andortions of my improvements may be use without others.

Qertain features herein disclosed relating was carriage'supporting andshifting devices, letter-feeding devices, and other car.- riageadjuncts, are made the subject of my divisional-application No. 475,930, filed February 3, 1909. The claims herein are limited to ribbondevices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen,-a carriage whereon sa d platenis mounted, a movable frame whereon said carriage is mounted, ribbonspools mounted upon said movable frame beneath said carriage, and meansfor .leading the ribbon from the'spools to the front side of the platen.

2. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types,;a, platen, a carriage whereon said saidcarriage is mounted, ribbon spools mounted upon said liftable framebeneath said carriage, and a ribbon vibrator also mounted upon saidliftable frame and extending to the front of the platen.

3. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a paperrarriage, a hinged support whereonsaid carriage is mounted, ribbon spools mounted upon said hinged supportbeneath said carriage, and movable -ivith said support to an accessibleposition, and means for vibrating the ribbon at every typestroke tocover and uncover the impression point.

4. In a front strike writing machine, the

ing types, a platen, a paper carriage whereon said platen is mounted, aframe whereon said carriage is mounted, said frame being hinged in rearof the platen to the framework of the machine, ribbon spools mountedupon said hinged frame below the carriage, and means for leading theribbon to the front side of the platen.

5. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a frame whereon said platen ismounted, ribbon spools mounted belowthe platen and in rear of the types,and a support whereon said ribbon spools are mounted; said platen frameand said support being movable to permit access to the ribbon spools.

6. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a platen, aframe whereon said platen is mounted, a series of types strikingrearwardly against the front of the platen, ribbon spools covered up bythe platen and in rear of said types, means for guiding the ribbon fromone spool to the platen is mounted, a liftable frame whereon combinationof a series of rearwardly strikfront of the platen and back to the otherspool and so constructed as to present the ribbon flatwise to the frontofthe platen,

and an upwardly and rearwardly tiltable' hinged frame whereon saidplaten frame is mounted; said parts being so constructed and related,that a movement of said hinged frame upwardly and rearwardly exposes thespools so that they may conveniently be manipulated.

7. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a seriesofrearwardly striking types, a platen against the front side of whichsaid types strike, an upwardly and rearwardly tiltable carriage for saidplaten, ribbon spools mounted face to face in rear of said types andcovered up by said carriage, a ribbon vibrator extendingrto the viclnityof the impression pointand constructed to present the ribbon fiatwise tothe front side of the platen, and means for operatin said vibrator; saidspools being uncovere il by the operation of tilting rearwardly saidcarriage.

8. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, an upwardly and rearwardly tiltablecarriage, a platen upon said carriage, ribbon spools mounted side byside below said carriage and in rear of the type bars, an upwardly andrearwardly tiltable support upon which said spools are mounted, and aribbon vibrator movable with said support and extending to the front ofthe platen.

9. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, a pair ofribbon spools mounted side by side so that their axes extendtransversely of the machine, and so that they are covered by said platencarriage, and means, including a hinged support for said carriage, forrendering said spools accessible.

10. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame uponwhich said carriage travels and which is hinged in rear of the platen sothat it may be swung upwardly a pair of rib bon spools mounted upon saidframe side by side so that their axes extend transversely of themachine, said spools being below said carriage and in rear of the types,and means for leading the ribbon up from one spool, across the printingpoint, and down to the other spool.

11. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly-striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame uponwhich said carriage travels and which is hinged in rear of the platen sothat it may be swung upwardly, a pair of ribbon spools mounted upon saidframe side by side so that their axes extend transversely of themachine, said spools being below said carriage and in rear of the types,means for leading the ribbon up from one spool, across the printingpoint,-and down combination of a series of rearwardly striking typebars, a platen, a liftable platen carriage, a pair of detachable ribbonspools at the rear portion of the machine and in rear of said type-barsand covered up by said carriage, said spools standing face to face withtheir axes extending transversely of the machine, means for leading theribbon forwardly and upwardly from one spool, then across the printingpoint with the ribbon fiatwise to the front side of the platen, and thendownwardly and rearwardly to the other spool, and means for vibratingthe ribbon to cover and uncover the printing point; the spools beinguncovered by the lifting of said carriage.

13. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, a pair ofa-ibbon spools mounted side by side upon an axis in rear of the platen,said axis extending transversely of the machine, means for leading theribbon forwardly from one spool, up in front of the platen, acrosstheprinting point and back beneath the platen to the other spool, means forvibrating the ribbon at each type impression to cover and uncover theprinting point, and means for moving said platen frame in a manner topermit access to the spools and ribbon.

' 14. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a paper carriage, a hinged frame alongwhich said carriage travels, ribbon spools mounted side by side uponsaid hinged frame below said carriage, and means for leading the ribbonto'the front of the carriage and vibrating it to cover and uncover theprinting point.

15. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a carriage for said platen, aframe along which said carriage travels, a pair of ribbon spools mountedon said' frame in an inaccessible position in rear of the type bars,means for leading the ribbon to and across the printing point, means forvibrating the ribbon to cover and uncover the printing point, and meansfor moving said frame so as to bring the ribbon spools to an accessibleposition.

16. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a carriage for said platen, aframe along which said carriage mechanism for vibrating the ribbon tocover and uncover the printing point, and a hinge upon which said framemay turn to bring said ribbon spools to an accessible position.

17 In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a carriage for said platen, aframe along which said carriage travels, carriage feeding mechanism,ribbon-vibrating mechanism also mounted on said frame and operativelyconnected with said carriage-feeding mechanism, a pair of ribbon-spoolsalso mounted on said frame in rear of the type bars, and means forenabling said frame to be tilted so as to render the spools accessible.i,

18. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a. series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a carriage, a rail along which saidcarriage runs, a hinged support for said rail, a pair of ribbon spoolsin rear-0f said rails, and means for leading the ribbon from the spoolsforwardly beneath said rail and up to the printing point.

19. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a carriage, a rail along which saidcarriage runs, a platen mounted upon 'said carriage, a hinged support inrear of the platen for said rail, whereby said car'- riage and rail maybe tilted upwardly and rearwardly, a pair of ribbon spools mounted uponsaid hinged support in rear of said rail and in rear of the type bars,means in front of the platen for guiding the ribbon, carriage-feedingmechanism mounted upon said hinged support, and operative connectionsextending forwardly fro-m said carriage-feeding mechanism and beneathsaid rail to said ribbon-guiding means.

20. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a carriage, a frame whereon said carriagetravels, a pair of ribbon spools 'mounted upon said frame in aninaccessible position in rear of the type bars, and means for rotatingsaid ribbon-spools, said rotating means being mounted upon the frameworkof the machine, and said frame being pivotally mounted so as to enablesaid spools to be moved thereon away from said rotating means and intoan accessible position. I

21. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a carriage, a frame whereon said carriagetravels, a pair of ribbon spools mounted side by side upon said frame inan inaccessible position in rear of the type bars,

a ratchet wheel for each spool, and pawls mounted upon the framework ofthe machine for engagement with said ratchet wheels; said frame-beingpivotally mounted so as to enable said spools and ratchet wheels to bemoved thereon away from said pawls and into an accessible position.

22. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage is mounted, said frame comprising a horizontal rock shaft,forwardly extending arms, and a bar uniting said arms at their forwardends and havin a part whereon said carriage travels, a forwardlyextending arm on said rock shaft, a horizontal shaft upon said arm andparallel with said rock shaft, a pair of ribbon spools mounted on saidshaft, and a ribbon vibrator also mounted upon said frame and having apart extending up in front of the platen.'

23. In a-front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage is mounted, said frame comprising a horizontal rock shaft,forwardly extending arms, and a carriage-rail uniting said arms at theirforward ends, a pair of ribbon spools mounted side by side upon saidrock-shaft, means for leading the ribbon from the spools to the frontside of the platen.

24. In a front strike writing'machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly strik- ,ing types, a plat-en, a carriage for" said platen, aframe whereon said carriage runs, ribbon spools mounted on said framebelow the platen, means for shifting said frame up and down to enabledifferent types to print, and means for tilting said frame upsufficiently to bring said spools into an accessible position.

25. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a pair of'ribbonspools mounted beneath said carriage and behind said types, means forshifting said carriage up and down to enablc'difi'erent types to print,and means for lifting said carriage sufliciently to render said ribbonspools accessible.

26. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, said frame being hinged in rear of the'platen, a

pair of ribbon spools mounted upon saidcombination of a series ofrearwardly strikmg types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, said frame being hinged, ribbon spools mounted uponsaid frame in rear of said types and below said platen, a ribbonvibrator also mounted upon said frame and extending to the front of theplaten, means for shifting said frame to enable different types toprint, adjustable stops for limiting the shifting movements of saidframe, and

' means for enabling said frame to be tilted upwardly and rearwardly toexpose said ribbon spools.

28. In a front strike .writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, ribbon spools mounted upon said frame behind thetypes, means for shifting said frame up and down to enable differenttypes to print, a releasable stop for limiting the upward shiftingmovement of said frame, and means for enabling said frame to be liftedsuffi-* ciently to give access to said spools.

29. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of aseries ofrearwardly striking types, a carriage, a hinged frame where-- on saidcarriage runs, means for shifting said frame up and down to enabledifferent types to print, an adjustable stop for glimit- .hinged in rearof the platen and below the printing point, ribbon spools mounted onsaid frame behind the type bars and below the platen, means for shiftingsaid frame and carriage up, and down to enable different types to print,a releasable stop limiting the upward shift of the carriage and frame,wherebywhen said stop is released, the carriage and/frame may be tiltedupwardly and rearwardly, and means for leading the ribbon to-the'frontside of the platen and for vibrating the. same to cover and uncover theprinting point.

31.' Inc front'fstrike writing machine, the combination, of a series ofrearwardly striking'types, a platen'against the front side of which'saidtypes strike, a frame whereon .the platenisinounted, ribbon spoolsmounted behind the types and covered up by said platen and frame, anupwardly and lear- 68 wardly-sftiltable hinged frame whereon said platenframe is mounted, and a case-shifting mechanism including means forgiving said tiltable frame a short up and down movement to enabledifferent types to print; said hinged frame being so hinged that ituncovers the spools when it is tilted up and back on its hinge.

32. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, an upwardly and rearwardly tiltablepaper-carriage, ribbon spools detachably mounted side by side below saidcarriage and in rear of the type bars, a ribbon vibrator extending tothe front side of the platen, means for moving said vibrator to coverand uncover the printing point, and means for giving said carriage alimited up and down shift for enabling different types to print.

33. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly'striking type bars, a platen, a' platen carriage, a pair ofribbon spools mounted side by side upon axes in rear of the platen, saidaxes extending transversely of the machine, means for leading the ribbonforwardly from one spool, up in' front of the platen, r

across the printing point and back beneath the platen to the otherspool, means for vibrating the ribbon at each type impression to coverand uncover the printing point, and means for giving the platen frameeither a limited up-and-down shifting movement to enable difi'erenttypes to print or an extensive upward and rearward movement to bringsaid spools to an accessible position.

34. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a paper carriage, a hinged frame along whichsaid carriage travels, a carriage-propelling spring, escapementmechanism, ribbon spools mounted upon said hinged frame behind saidtypes and at the under side of the carriage, means for leading theribbon to the front of the carriage and vibrating it to cover anduncover the printing point, and means for giving said hinged frameeither a limited shifting stroke for enabling different types to printor an extensive upward swing for rendering said spools accessible.

35. In a front strike writing machine, the

combination of a series of rearwardly striking type bars, a platen, aplaten carriage, a frame whereon said carriage runs, said frame beinghinged in rear of said platen, a

spring lifting said frame, a stop against,

which said frame is lifted by said spring, means for depressing saidframe to enable different types to print, and ribbon spools mounted uponsaid frame in rear of the type bars and below the platen; said stopbeing releasable, so as to enable said frame to be tilted up tobringsaid spools to an accessible position.

v a type-opening above sai pressed device for sustaining said frame, a

stop against which said frame is held by said spring-pressed device, akey connected to said spring-pressed device so that by the operation ofthe key said spring-pressed device is withdrawn and said frame andcarriage are permitted to drop so as to enable different types to print,spools mounted on said hinged frame in rear of the type bars and belowthe platen, and means for leading a ribbon from the spools to the frontside of the platen and vibrating the ribbon to cover and uncover theprinting point, said stop being releasable so as to enable said hingedframe to be tilted up to bring the spools to an accessible position.

37. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame uponwhich said carriage runs, a pair of ribbon spools mounted on said frame,a spring for sustaining said frame and carriage in normal position,means for moving said frame and carriage in one direction to enabledifferent types to print, and means for moving said frame and carriagein a11- other direction to bring said spools to an accessible position.

38. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, a platenscale supported contiguous to the platen and below the printing point,an index, ribbon-guiding arms one at each side of said index, andseparated sufficiently to expose therebetween two of the majorgraduations of said scale, and a tiypeguide having scale, and supporting arms extending outwardly and downwardly in front of saidribbon-guiding arms and so as to leave the portion of the scale betweensaid ribbon-guiding arms uncovered.

I 39. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking type bars, a platen, a platen carriage, aframewhereon said carriage runs, said frame being hinged in rear of theplaten, a platen scale supported contiguous to the platen and below theprinting point, an index, ribbonguiding arms mounted on said hingedframe and one at each side of said index, said arms extending up infront of said scale and being separated sufliciently to'exposet-herebetween more than one major division of said scale, a type-guidehaving a type-opening above said scale, and havlng supporting armsextending outwardly and downwardly in front of said ribbon-guiding armsand so as to leave the portion of the 40. In a typewriting machine, thecombination of a ribbon which may be vibrated to cover and uncover theprinting point, and a pair of spools which are located behind the typebars and beneath the platen, and are covered by the latter and renderedaccessible only when the platen rises.

41. In a front strike writin machine, the.

combination with a platen an type mounted to strike rearwardly upon thefront thereof, of ribbon spools, mounted behind the types and covered upby the platen, means for holding the ribbon flatwise to the front sideof the platen at the printing pointand for vibrating the ribbon to coverand uncover the printing point, and means for enabling the platen to bemoved up and off to uncover the spools.

42. The combination with keys and ribbon-winding means operated thereby,in cluding a pawl and ratchet wheel, of a carriage, a frame whereon itruns, said frame being movable, and said ratchet wheel being mounted onsaid frame and movable therewith away from said pawl.

43. The combination of a platen, typebars striking rearwardly againstthe front of the platen, a pair of ribbon spools behind the type-barsand beneath the platen and covered up by the latter so as to beinaccessible, and. means, including a platen-frame which may be liftedup and back, for rendering the spools accessible; means being alsoprovided for leading the ribbon from one spool u wardly and forwardly tothe front side 0 the platen and then back to the other spool.

44. The combination of a platen, typebars striking rearwardly againstthe front of the platen, a platen carriage running upon a track beneaththe platen, ribbonspools mounted beneath and behind said track in aninaccessible position, means for leading the ribbon, from one spool tothe front side of the platen and back to the other spool, and means forrendering the s ools accessible, inclusive of a device for enabling saidtrack and carriage to be lifted.

45. The combination of a-platen, a platen frame, a hinged frame having atrack whereon said carriage runs, carriage-feeding mechanism, spoolscarried upon said hinged,

frame below the carriage, means upon said hinged frame for supportingthe ribbon in front of the platen, and type-bars mounted independentlyof said hinged frame forwardlv of the spools and so as' to strikeagainst the front of the platen.

46. The combination with a movable track-frame carrying spools and aribbon vibrator and also carrying feeding dogs, of a connection from thedogs to the vibrator, said spools being beneath the track frame, and thelatter being movable to render the spools accessible.

47. The combination with the laten carriage and a track beneath the paten, of a shifting .frame including said track and carrying feedingdogs, a ribbon vibrator hinged back of the platen a little below theprinting point and bending downwardl beneath said track and up in front0 the platen, and a connection from said vibrator to the dogs.

48. The combination with a platen frame,

of a hinged frame having beneath the platen a track 23, and alsoa reartrack 27, for the carriage, and ribbon winding and vibrating mechanismall mounted in rear of said tracks.

49. The combination of a pair of ribbon spools and a carriage, thespools bein below and covered up by the carriage, and t e carriage beingmovable up and also movable in letter-feeding direction while the ribbonremains stationary, and the ribbon running transversely of. the platen.

50. The combination of a pair of ribbon spools and a carriage, and acarriage track frame, the spools being beneath the carriage track, andthe frame being movable up to render the spools accessible, and thecarriage bein movable in letter feeding direction relatively to theframe and the ribbon.

51. The combination with a pair of ribbon spools of a platen and platenframe,

said frame being mounted above the spools and rendering them normallyinaccessible, and being movable up to render the spools accessible. andbeing also movable in letter feeding direction while the spools remainstationary.

52. The combination with a ribbon led from the front of the platendownwardly and rearwardly beneath the platen and carried around spools,of a platen frame normally covering the ribbon and movable up to renderthe same accessible.

53. A ribbon-spool vibrator mounted behind and beneath a platen andextending forwardly up and around the front of the platen, and acarriage traveling over said vibrator and movable up from over the same.

54; A shifting carriage-track frame having a pair of ribbon-spoolsmounted thereon beneath the same, and a carriage running on thecarriage-track frame.

v55. The combination with a carriage, of a ribbon carried from the frontof the platen down beneath the platen and extending rearwardly in tworeaches and mounted on spools,the carriage bein movable up to render theribbon accessi le.

56. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen carriage, ofa pair of spools mounte on edge and side by side beneath the latencarriage, a ribbon carrier in front of t e platen over which the ribbonruns between the spools, and spool-winding devices mounted between saidspools.

57. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen carriage,of, a pair of spools mounted on edge and side by side heneath the platencarriage, a ribbon carrier in front of the platen over which the ribbonruns between the spools, and spool-winding devices mounted between saidspools; said spools bein detachably connected to the ribbon-windingdevices.

58. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, means for shifting said frame to enable differenttypes to print, means for enabling said frame to be tilted upwardly andrearwardly to enable the under side of the carriage to be exposed, and aribbon mechanism on said frame.

59. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, said frame being hinged, means for shifting saidframe to enable different types to print, adjustable stops for limitingthe shifting movements of said frame, means for enabling said frame tobe tilted upwardly and rearwardly to expose the under side of thecarriage, and a ribbon mechanism on said frame.

60. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, means for shiftingsaid frame up and down to enabledifferent types to print, a releasable stop for limiting the upwardshifting movement of said frame, meansfor enabling said frame to belifted sufficiently to give access to the under side of the carriage,and a ribbon mechanism on said frame.

' 61. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a carriage, a hinged frame whereon saidcarriage runs, means for shifting said frame up and down to enabledifferent types to print, an adjustable stop for limiting the upwardshifting movement of said frame; as to permit the frame to be tiltedupward and backwardly to give access to the under side of the carriage,and a ribbon mechanism on said frame.

62. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series'ofrearwardly striking type bars, an upwardly and rearwardly inclinedsegment whereon they are pivoted, a platen, a platen carriage, a framewheresaid stop being also releasable, so

different types to print, a releasable stop limiting the upward shift ofthe frame and carriage; whereby when said stop is released,

the frame and carriage may be tilted upwardly and rearwardly, and aribbon mechanism on said frame.

63. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series ofrearwardly striking types, a platen, a platen carriage, a frame whereonsaid carriage runs, said frame being hinged in rear of the platen, aspring for lifting said frame, a releasable stop' a ainst which saidframe is pressed by sai spring, means whereby said frame may drop toenable different types to print said frame being tiltable upwardly andrearwardly, when said stop is released, so as to expose the under sideof the carriage,

, and a ribbon mechanism on said frame. .t

'64. In a front-strike typewriting machine in which the type strike thefront side of the platen, the combination with a main frame, and alaterally-movable carriage and platen, of a vertically-movableshiftframe for the carriage pivoted to the main frame -in rear of theplaten, the pivotal axis being horizontal, substantially as set forth,and a ribbon mechanism on said shift frame. L

65. In a visible-writing typewriting machine in which the type-barsswing upwardly and rearwardly 'topt-he platen, the combination of a mainframe, a laterallymovable platen-carriage, a shiftframe which entirelysupports the carriage and is pivoted to the main frame to swing up anddown to place the platen in difierent printing positions, saidshift-frame being connected to the main frame by separated pivotslocated in rear of the platen and parallel therewith, substantially asset forth, and a ribbon mechanism on said shift fram V 66. In a\Visible-Writing tygewriting machine in which the type-bars swingupwardly and rearwardly to the platen, the combination of a main frame,a laterallymovable carriage supporting the platen, a carriageshift framewhich entirely supports the carriage and is pivoted to the main frame inrear of the platen, substantially as set forth, and a ribbon mechanismon said shift frame.

67. In a visible-writing typewriting machine in which the type-barsswing upwardly .and rearwardly to the platen, the combination of a mainframe, a laterallymovable platen supporting carriage, a shift-framewhich is of substantially the same length as the carriage and entirelysupports said carriage and is pivoted to the main frame. to swing up anddown to place the platen in different printing positions, said carriageand shift-frame being constructed to allow the carriage to movelaterally on the shift-frame beyond the ends thereof, substantially asset forth, and a ing positions; said carriage being movable laterally onthe shift-frame in front of the pivotal connection between theshift-frame and the main frame, and said shift-frame and carriage beingconstructed to allow the carriage to move laterally beyond the ends ofsaid shift-frame, substantially as set forth, and a ribbon mechanism onsaid shift-frame.

69. In a visible-writing typewriting machine in which the type-barsswing upwardly and rearwardly to the platen, the combination of a mainframe, a laterallymovable carriage, a shift-frame which is ofsubstantially the same length as the carriage and entirely supports saidcarriage and is pivoted to the main frame substantially parallel to theaxis of the platen to swing up and down to place the platen in differentprinting positions, said carriage and shift-frame being constructed'toallow the carriage to move on the shift-frame laterally past the pivotalconnection of the shift-frame with the main frame, substantially as setforth, and a ribbon mechanism on said shift frame.

70. In a typewriting machine in which the type-bars swing upwardly andrearwardly to the platen, the combination of a laterally-movableplaten-carriage, a main frame, a rigid shift-frame provided with acarriage-supporting track along its front side, the shift-frame beingpivotally connected to the main frame by two pivots at its rear,substantially as set forth, and a ribbon mechanism on said shift-frame.

71. In a typewriting machine in which the type-bars swing upwardly andrearwardly to the platen, the combination of a laterally-movableplaten-carriage, a main frame, and a rigid rectangular shift-framepivoted at its rear portion to the main frame to swing up and down, atrack which entirely supports the carriage and is located wholly infront of said pivotal connection, substantially as set forth, and aribbon mechanism on said shift-frame.

72. In a ty'pewriting machine in which 7 the type-bars swing upwardlyand rearwardly to the platen, the combination of ,a latera ly movableplaten carria e, a main frame, a rigid rectangular shiftrame having asupporting-track for the carriage along its front, a pair of se aratepivots connecting the rear of the s ift-frame to the main frame,substantially as set forth, and 'a' ribbon mechanism on said shiftframe.

73. The combination wit-h a rocking frame and a carriage thereon, ofspools on the rocking frame, a carriage escapement mechanism operated bythe keys, and spool winding mechanism connected to the carriageescapement mechanism.

74. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a ribbonvibrator hinged at the rear of the platen and extending from its hingedownwardly beneath the platen rail and then upwardly to the front of theplaten.

75. In a typewriting machine, the combination'with a platen, of a ribbonvibrator hinged at the rear of the platen and extending from its hingedownwardly beneath the platen rail and then upwardly to the front of theplaten, and having an elbow at its front end to clear the pressure rollsand front scale.

76. A ribbon shifting device comprising a shaft 92 having ears 94 and 95and a fingerpiece 93' to engage the driving pawls in alternation, saiddriving pawls pivoted side by side and having arms to be engaged by saidears.

77. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage shift frame,a vibrating ribbon guide and a pivoted vibrating lever for the samesupported on said shift frame, a lever fulcrumed in rear of thevibrating lever pivot and having an arm projecting upwardly andforwardly, and a link pivotally connected to said lever arm and to thevibrating lever, substantially as set forth.

78. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and acarriage for the platen, of a shift frame which forms the entire supportfor the carriage and is movable to shift the platen to differentprinting positions, a ribbon vibrator lever mounted on the shift frame,and means for vibrating the lever with the carriage and shift frame inboth the normal and shifted positions, substantially as set forth.

79. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platenframe, a rail along which the frame runs,said rail in rear of theplaten, types mounted to strike upon the front of the platen, andkeylevers for operating the types, of spools mounted on edge betweensaid rail and said levers, and a ribbon passing up from one spool to thefront of the platen, and thence down to the other spool, and means forenabling the levers to wind the spools.

' track in rear of the type 80. In a typewriting machine, thecombination with a platen and types mounted to strike upon a visibleside thereof, of spools mounted on edge below the platen, a ribbonextending up from the spools to the front of the platen and thererunning over a vibrator, the platen and spoolsbeing mounted to moveupwardly to give access to the spools, and a spool-winding devicemounted upon the framework of the machine and disconnected from thespools by such upward movement of the spools.

81. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and typesmounted to strike u on a visible side thereof, of spools mounte on edgebelow the platen, a ribbon extending up from the spools to the front ofthe platen and there running over a vibrator, the platen and spoolsbeing mounted to move upwardly to ive access to the spools, and aspool-winding device mounted upon the framework of the machine anddisconnected from the spools by such upward movement of the spools; thespools being detachably mounted to enable them to be removedindependently of their winding means.

82. In a typewriting machine provided with a platen, a carriagetherefor, a track upon which the carriage runs, and type bars below theplaten to strike upon the front thereof, a pair of ribbon spoolsjournaled side by side on edge below said carriage and bars, a ribbon onsaid spools, a ribbon vibrator in front of the laten, the ribbonextending from one spoo forwardly beneath the carriage and p aten andupwardly and over said vibrator, and thence downwardly and rearwardly tothe other spool, means for automatically operating said vibrator, andmeans for antomatically winding said spools.

83. In a typewriting machine provided with a platen, a carriagetherefor, a track upon which the carriage runs, and type bars below theplaten to strike upon the front thereof, a pair of ribbon spoolsjournaled side by side on ed e below said carriage and track in rear oft e type bars, a ribbon on said spools, a ribbon vibrator in front ofthe platen, the ribbon extending from one spool forwardly beneath thecarriage and platen and upwardly and over said vibrator, and thencedownwardly and rearwardly to the other spool means for automaticallyoperatin said vi rator, and means for automatical winding said spools,said carriage with sai track being movable upwardly to afford work ofthe machine, ribbon spools mounted upon said hinged frame, and means forguiding the ribbon to cover the printing point.

85. In a typewriting machine in which the type-bars swing upwardly andrearwardly to the platen, the combination of a laterallymovableplaten-carriage, a main frame, and a rigid rectangular shift-framepivoted at its rear portion to the main frame to swing up and down, atrackwhich entirely supports the carriage and is located wholly in frontof said pivotal connection,-v and 'a ribbon-vibratin mechanism mountedto shift with said shift-frame.

86. In a typewriting machine having printing keys, the combination of aplatencarriage, a frame whereon said carriage travels in letter-feedingdirection, sald frame hinged to the framework of the machine forshifting up and down, .to shift said carriage. bodily up and down toenable different types to print, and a ribbon-vibrating mechanismoperable by the printing keys and mounted to shift with said shiftingframe.

BURNHAM O. STIGKNEY. Witnesses:

SAMUEL R. OGDEN,

LIDA Ross.

